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By six weeks, your turkeys can begin going outside for parts of the day if temperatures are 75 degrees or higher. At eight weeks, they will be ready to go to pasture. If there is not a foraging or ranging area for your turkeys, an outside pen should provide 40 square feet per bird.
When can baby turkeys be outside?
Most often poults will be fully feathered and will be ready to move into their outdoor housing around 6-7 weeks of age. But until they are fully feathered they need to be kept in a draft-free, temperature-controlled brooder space protected from predators and supplied with fresh food and water.
How long do turkeys need a heat lamp?
They will be happiest if you keep their brooder temperature at 95-100 degrees for the first week, then lower the temperature by about 5 degrees per week until they are fully feathered, approximately 6-8 weeks old. They will still appreciate a heat lamp at night for a few weeks after this period if the nights are cool.
When can baby turkey poults go outside?
Make sure they are fully feathered and at least eight weeks old before moving poults to their new outdoor housing. You can give them access to outdoors but still provide the lamp at night for a week or two, and then finally move them to their new, grown-up turkey roosts and pen.
How long do turkeys stay in the brooder?
Poults often remain in a brooder until they are fully feathered, roughly six to eight weeks of life, potentially longer depending on the weather. During the time in the brooder, it is imperative to provide adequate space to ensure livability without hindering the growth of the birds.
Can turkey poults eat chick starter?
Use a chick starter or game bird starter for turkey poults. Protein should be at least 28 percent for this starter, and you can feed it for the first eight weeks. It should have at least 20 percent protein (higher than that required for chickens).
Will my pet turkey fly away?
Because turkeys are able to fly, those birds have been confined to the caged yard. We wanted to allow them free range in the fenced-in grassy area. However, because it has an open top, the turkeys would be able to fly away.
How cold can turkeys tolerate?
These energetic foragers weigh less than 15 grams and can survive temperatures that plunge nearly 100 degrees below the freezing point! How do they do it? Birds of all shapes and sizes have special adaptations for living in cold climates. Here are just a few examples of tough birds and their tips for staying warm.
How do you keep baby turkeys warm without a heat lamp?
Some options include: Hot water bottles. If you don’t mind the thought of getting up in the night to tend your chicks, 2 hot water bottles can be used as a safe heat source. Brooders. Heated pads. Keep a crowd. Nice thick beds. Start older.
Can turkeys live outside?
First, turkeys, when given the choice, will opt to spend the night roosting outdoors, usually in a tree. Unlike our chickens, they don’t seem to mind being out in the rain or snow; the toms especially seem disinclined to get out of the weather.
How tall should a turkey brooder be?
The brooder guard should be 18-24 inches high and must be a minimum of 5 feet in diameter for 50 birds. For turkeys, you may need to have a top cover to prevent the birds from jumping out of the brooder circle. When chicks are 7-10 days old, remove the guard and allow the birds full run of the pen.
What do you feed turkey poults?
Feed for Turkey Poults For their first 12 weeks, poults should be given a 28% protein feed. After 12 weeks, they can be fed a 20% protein feed and you can begin to add grains such as corn and oats to their feed as oats are a great bone strengthening supplement for poults.
Do turkeys need light at night?
Once your Young turkeys have feathers be sure to keep a light on them at night just in case. This will ensure that they will not get cold, they may not need the light but let them decide. As above always make sure that they have enough room to move away from the heat if it is too much.
Can you brood chickens and turkeys together?
The short answer is yes, you can raise turkeys and chickens together. We also keep geese, ducks, and guineas with our chickens in the same coop and run.
How long does it take for a turkey to grow to full size?
Most turkey breeds will mature between 14-22 weeks of age, which means you will need to purchase birds early in July to make sure they have enough time to grow. Heritage breeds will take a bit longer, 25-30 weeks, so those birds would need to be purchased in late May or early June.
Do turkey poults need medicated feed?
If you are unable to find “turkey feeds”, start and grow your poults on a 20-22% Chick Starter (medicated) for the first 12 weeks. From that time on to the time of slaughter, provide them with an 18% Chick Grower ration. All rations should be medicated. The chicks will lead the turkeys to feed and water.
What is a group of turkeys called?
Very young birds are poults, while juvenile males are jakes, and juvenile females are jennies. A group of turkeys is called a rafter or a flock. A wild turkey’s gobble can be heard up to one mile away and is a primary means for a tom to communicate with his harem of hens.
What are baby turkeys called?
Adult male turkeys are called toms and females are called hens. Very young birds are poults and adolescents are called jakes.
